What is Child Abuse?
There are all different kinds of abuse. Here are the four main categories:
Physical – punching, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand or object), burning, or otherwise harming a child
Sexual – bad touching, being forced to have sex, being forced to look at (or play a part in) porn, being prostituted, having someone expose themselves to you
Neglect – not getting enough food or shelter, lack of supervision, not getting medical or mental health care, not being taken to school
Emotional – insulting, putting down, belittling, manipulating, rejecting a child
Typically, a “child" is considered a person who is 18 or younger, although it might differ for some states. Sometimes child abuse is against the law, other times it is not, and it can be hard for you to know if what you are experiencing is abuse.
Who Can I Talk to About Abuse?
The simple answer is a trustworthy adult. Here are some examples:
- a parent, or another relative
- a teacher, or coach
- a school counselor or a professional counselor outside the school
- a neighbor, or family friend
We know sometimes adults who seemed trustworthy can turn out to be abusive. Remember that if you ever experience abuse, it is not your fault. If you can't think of a trustworthy adult to talk to, feel free to reach out to us, we're available 24/7 – 800-448-3000.
What About Reporting to the Authorities?
What will happen if you make a report? Every state and every situation is different, but here are some basics:
- Someone will contact you and get as much information about the situation as possible.
- Reports are reviewed to determine which ones they need to investigate. Some reports are screened out if what is happening isn't against the law, or if there isn't enough information. When this happens, it does not mean abuse is not present, it only means that the allegation does not meet necessary qualifications for investigation.
- If the report is not screened out, an investigator (or caseworker) starts gathering information to clarify what happened, if it is illegal, is likely to happen again, and – most especially – to make sure the child is safe.
- Once they are done gathering information, they determine what services or resources would best help the family. They might recommend counseling, in-home family services, or some other sort of help for families. In some cases, removal of the children from the home may be necessary for their safety.
If you are worried about being abused, please reach out – 800-448-3000!
